[NCC] Contest Clubs Update - RTTY Roundup and more

[Tim Duffy]

To:  ARRL Contest Clubs

Re: RTTY Roundup and more update

All,

As we head into the holidays, follows are a couple updates for contest
clubs.

- FT8 and the ARRL RTTY Roundup (http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup) is just a
couple weeks away (January 5-6, 2019).  This is an event, since its
announcement in November 1988 QST, that not only promotes RTTY, but in this
new event it also promoted using all digital modes that existed at that
time, and those that would follow.  As we enter 2019, now some 30 years
later, our newest popular mainstream digital mode (FT8) is poised to bring
activity to new levels.  In January 2019 QST (p.72-73), Joe Taylor, K1JT,
presented an article as a how-to for ARRL RTTY Roundup (now with and FT8) to
assist participants.  As your club members head into the holidays, here's a
link to that article that they may review as they prepare for the event (see
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ContestResults/2019/January%202019%20QST%20-%
20Taylor%20-%20FT8.pdf).

- National Contest Journal (NCJ) and New Contester Learning / Training
Tools:  Per the email below, NCJ is asking clubs to talk-up the myriad of
tools available to the contest community, and to discuss and share with NCJ
what additional learning content may be of interest to your clubs and
members.  See the email that follows.  Be sure to provide any
thoughts/suggestions/follow up to NCJ Editor Scott Wright, K0MD at
drscott.wright at gmail.com 

Wishing you, your club and it's members warmest wishes for the holidays!

73,

Bart Jahnke, W9JJ
Contest Branch Manager
ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™
225 Main St
Newington CT 06111
860-594-0232
w9jj at arrl.org




-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Wright [mailto:drscott.wright at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 4:29 PM
To: Jahnke, Bart, W9JJ
Subject: Request to send to contest clubs via your reflector

Bart

The NCJ is asking major North American contest clubs to consider expanding
the learning and training tools available to help new and mid-skill level
contesters learn and raise their skills to the next level.

In 2007, the NCCC published a video series on So2r which I personally found
very helpful. They are going to re-post it to their website so all of us can
learn from the series.  Contest University also posts its lectures to the
web and the power point slides - both extremely helpful to new and mid-skill
level contesters. 

We would like contest clubs to discuss with their members the need to
develop additional video based and power point-based training tools on the
following topics:

1. How to do the Sprint contest - CW and/or RTTY 2. How to set up and be a
Mobile rover in state QSP.
3. Optimization of SO2R techniques in SSB/CW/RTTY contesting 4. How to do
SO2V contesting 5. Advice on planning for a 48 hour contest - what are the
techniques the winners use?
6. Setting up n1mm+ or Win-test with a rig - a basic how to video or power
point set.

The video recordings might record both sides of a QSO, and in the example of
the Sprint contest, slow it down enough to show beginners how to “Sprint”
when you are done with the QSO, what to do if you lose a “jump ball” and
other techniques.  It might involve recording, then narrating what to do and
listen for in the right and left audio channels.

These are only ideas for what we believe is currently lacking for up and
coming contesters. There are probably plenty more issues that our major
contest clubs can identify and create training films to help all of us.

You Tube is full of videos describing rigs and other things like building a
ham shack table.  Perhaps we can post some helpful videos on contesting to
You Tube also? 

If there is enough interest in this, we can have an inter-club competition
and I will award an “Editor’s Cup” to the club that makes the best or most
innovative video in 2019.  It can be awarded perhaps at the 2020 Dayton
contest dinner (if the organizers agree) . 

Thanks for considering!

Scott Wright, K0MD

NCJ Editor

www.ncjweb.com

Twitter: @EditorNCJ